CUSTOM-CRAFTED CEREMONIES

A human life is a series of transitional thresholds — the wonder of birth, the milestones of childhood, the stretching of adolescence, the grounding of adulthood. We fall in love, inhabit dwellings, nurture families, pursue callings, and eventually, we return Home.

Through every transition, joy can hum beneath the surface, sometimes vibrantly and other times softly. Lisa invites you to honor these moments with nondenominational ceremonies that free your joy to be felt and shared.

Ceremony offerings include:

• Weddings (especially -- but not limited to -- queer and non-traditional)
• Baby welcomings
• Funeral and memorial services
• Blessings for homes or businesses
• Rituals for any of life’s meaningful thresholds

Facilitating unforgettable, heartfelt ceremonies is one of Lisa’s greatest joys, and being welcomed into your milestone moment is a true honor for her.

To cocreate a one-of-a-kind ceremony with Lisa that reflects your unique spirit and story, reach out here and begin the conversation.

Lisa is authorized to perform legal weddings throughout the United States. Details will vary based on the location and specific needs of the celebrants.

JOY SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP

The best way to work with Lisa as a Joy Trainer is to become a member of Joy School! This vibrant community rooted in practical spirituality meets online weekly for support and upliftment, and there is no limit to the joyful heights that can be reached with the loving care and companionship of this high-vibe tribe! You can explore membership opportunities right here.


THE JOY PRACTICE

Outside of Joy School membership, Lisa additionally offers her signature program -- The Joy Practice -- at annual retreats and other in-person classes, workshops and events held in New York's beautiful Hudson Valley.

The Joy Practice is the culmination of more than 30 years of researching, exploring, practicing, and teaching the art and science of joy. Whether online or in person, all iterations of The Joy Practice are led by Lisa McCourt -- award-winning author of books about joy and love that have sold over 9 million copies and a teacher of spiritual and psychological principles for over three decades.

Lisa is happy to custom-tailor a Joy Practice program to meet the needs of your group or organization. These programs can be offered either online or at your Hudson Valley venue. Whether you're looking to boost workplace morale and wellness, create an effective, connected, and synergistic team within your organization, or offer a balm of hope to your congregation or community, the rare skill of self-created peace and joy is one we'd all be wise to master in these unprecedented times!

To see if there are any Joy Practice offerings currently scheduled for public participation, check our Upcoming Events list right here. 

A joyful life is not just something to hope for -- it’s something you can learn, practice, and create.

You don’t need to have any prior experience with spirituality or personal growth to participate in The Joy Practice. Absolutely everyone is welcome. Whether you’re taking your very first step into this world or you’ve devoted decades to meditation, mindfulness, self-discovery, or personal transformation, you’ll find something here that can meet you exactly where you are.

The Joy Practice offers a rich and wonderfully diverse collection of simple, practical, tried-and-true practices—many with roots stretching back centuries and increasingly supported by modern scientific research. You’ll explore different ways of shifting your perspective, calming your mind, opening your heart, cultivating gratitude and presence, connecting more deeply with yourself and others, and inviting more joy into the ordinary moments of everyday life.

It’s not about mastering a long list of skills or adopting someone else’s spiritual routine. It’s about discovering what works specifically for you.

The Joy Practice is intentionally diverse, engaging, and fun, giving you the freedom to experiment, play, and choose from a variety of approaches. You might fall in love with one practice and make it part of your morning routine. Another may become your go-to when life feels challenging. You may discover that something you’ve tried before suddenly makes sense in a whole new way.

Every participant in the program creates their own personalized joy toolkit -- a collection of simple hacks and habits that fit their unique personality, beliefs, lifestyle, and the life they authentically want to live.

After 30 years of helping thousands of joy seekers discover that greater joy is possible, Lisa has distilled that wealth of experience into one welcoming, accessible, practical, playful, and deeply meaningful methodology – The Joy Practice.

Come as you are. Try what calls to you. Leave what doesn’t. And create your own unique path to a more joyful life.

• For Corporate Settings: You’ll find this work will increase productivity, reduce stress in participants, increase focus and overall performance, improve communication and corporate climate, and generate noticeable teambuilding benefits.
• For Senior Communities: Participants will become skilled in several self-guided wellness practices, enjoy cognitive benefits, community benefits, and create their own personalized toolbox of accessible practices.
• For Religious Organizations: Lisa is a seasoned teacher of nondenominational spiritual wisdom and wellness practices that easily integrate with religious teachings of all kinds.
• For Educational Settings: The tools shared in Lisa's programs are proven to benefit academic performance, aid in stress management, and improve cognition and communication for students and/or faculty.
• For Wellness Centers: Lisa's programs offer a wide array of proven practices and approaches that increase emotional health and vitality and easily complement the offerings of wellness centers.

Whether you’re representing a congregation, a community, or a business, Lisa will come to you and adapt to your unique needs. You can read 50+ glowing endorsements of Lisa's work right here. 

We can design a program for you in any of these formats:

• weekly classes
• single 2-hour workshop
• 2-day retreat
• full-day retreat
• half-day retreat

Lisa's programs all have one thing in common: They shift participants into more joyful, effective, self-actualized, emotionally mature, and immutably peaceful versions of themselves. Whether your group or organization embraces spiritual and Eastern philosophies, or is more welcoming of a mainstream, science-based approach, Lisa will cater the program specifically to your needs. It's not about denying or sidestepping the abundant challenges of our times -- it's about using them as wondrous opportunities for personal growth and positive transformation! Living in an upleveled state of joy, peace, and emotional freedom IS possible, and it's what allows you to be most effective in generating positive change, whether in your personal life or for the collective.

Lisa’s work is informed by renowned, time-honored traditions as well as leading contemporary teachers and researchers such as Eckhart Tolle, Pema Chodron, Ram Dass, Dan Goleman, Tara Brach, Thich Nhat Hanh, David Hawkins, Michael Singer, Brene Brown, Jean Houston, Byron Katie, Jack Kornfield, Ken Wilber, Joan Borysenko, Dr. Robert Gass, Bessel van der Kolk, and others. These teachers have all demonstrated that humans are capable of growth and positive transformation through the application of some learnable, practical skills. The uplifting self-discovery methods provided in Lisa's programs are simple, effective practices that anyone can learn and master.


Research on Workplace Benefits

1. Aetna Study: Aetna implemented mindfulness programs and found participants gained an average of 62 minutes of productivity per week (valued at $3,000 per employee annually). They also reported reduced stress levels and healthcare costs decreased by ~$2,000 per employee.
   • Source: Harvard Business Review article on Aetna's mindfulness program
2. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology: A 2016 meta-analysis found mindfulness-based interventions in workplaces were associated with reduced stress, psychological distress, emotional exhaustion, and improved well-being and job satisfaction.
   • Source: Lomas, T., et al. (2017). "A systematic review of the impact of mindfulness on the well-being of healthcare professionals."
3. University of Oxford Research: Found that mindfulness programs in the workplace reduced stress by 58% and improved focus by 35%.
   • Source: The Mindfulness Initiative - The Mindful Workplace
4. SAP's Mindfulness Program: Their internal analysis showed a 200% ROI based on reduced absenteeism and increased employee engagement.
   • Source: SAP's Global Mindfulness Practice

COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS

Lisa has collaborated with many of today's most highly celebrated authors and teachers -- Jack Canfield, don Miguel Ruiz, Jr, Karen Drucker, Dr. Steven Farmer, Denise Linn, Karen Salmansohn, Paul Boynton, Arielle Ford, Dr. Chris Niebauer, James Van Praagh, Scott Stabile, and so many more. One of her greatest joys is partnering with complementary teachers to develop new programs.

Here are a few reviews of recent collaborations:

“Thank you so much for such an incredibly informative and healing experience.” – Marilyn Perlyn

“Thanks so much for the wonderful one-day retreat! I feel very refreshed, nourished and ready to tackle some challenges in my life. I definitely appreciate your sharing and caring approach to teaching.” – Shari Hembree

“I had a wonderful time, learned a lot about myself, got a lot more clarity, and now understand more about me.” – Daphne Antoine

“Thank you for that incredible experience!” – Garcia Peters

“Thank you for a day of body, soul, and mind nourishment! It was just what my heart needed. In a culture that too often draws our attention to what's wrong, what a delight, and remembrance that we have the ability to tune into, to choose, joy and harmony, YES - even in the midst of the chaos. The workshop was a lovely blend of wisdom, insight, community, and play.” – Laura Duksta